Both Carroll and Peter Lovenkrands were denied by Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer.

Fulham have won only nine games on the road in the past five seasons, and their chances of making double figures at St James' Park receded the moment Dembele shuddered Tim Krull's crossbar midway through the second half.

After an eighth league draw of the campaign, they have now gone 25 consecutive away games without victory, having lost won away from Craven Cottage on the opening day of last season.

Even so, Fulham boss Mark Hughes is likelier to be the happier of the two managers.

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Hughton disappointed not to beat Fulham

The received wisdom was that Newcastle would struggle without the creative influence of Joey Barton, who began a three-match suspension following his dismissal for violent conduct against Blackburn in midweek, and so it proved.

Barton has laid on four of the seven goals scored by Carroll so far this season, and in the absence of such service the Magpies forward, who is widely expected to make his England debut against France at Wembley on Wednesday night, rarely came close to his effervescent best.

Aside from the driven effort which Magpies skipper Nolan inadvertently blocked, Carroll also saw a well-struck 20-yarder saved by Schwarzer, but Newcastle's most promising opportunities fell to Lovenkrands.

For the Fulham pair Damien Duff and Aaron Hughes, former Magpies both, it was an afternoon of contrasting fortunes.

Duff, returning to his former club for the first time since leaving Tyneside in the wake of relegation just over a year ago, endured an uncomfortable time.

Deployed in the unfamiliar role of left-back after an injury to Carlos Salcido forced Mark Hughes into a defensive reshuffle, the Republic of Ireland international's every touch was greeted with a chorus of disapproval from the home support.

For the most part he carried out his defensive duties well, although notably one of Newcastle's best first-half chances was fashioned along Fulham's left flank, Danny Simpson delivering an inviting ball into the six-yard box for Lovenkrands.

That the opening came to nothing was down to Hughes, who nipped in ahead of the Denmark international to clear the danger.

It was one of several incisive contributions from the erstwhile Magpies centre-half, who had likewise denied Lovenkrands in the opening minutes, nipping in to clear Jose Enrique's centre after the Spaniard had rounded the statuesque Stephen Kelly.

In terms of keeping Newcastle at bay, Hughes was outshone only by the unlikely figure of Nolan, who inadvertently got in the way of a meaty effort from Carroll following a Guthrie corner.

Schwarzer got down well to obstruct the progress of Lovenkrands' follow-up effort, and that was about as near as the home side got before the break.

Not so Fulham, who overcame a slow start to make life increasingly eventful for Krul in the Newcastle goal.

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Professional performance pleases Hughes

Having got down bravely to deny Clint Dempsey from a corner, the Dutch keeper was forced to turn behind a low Zoltan Gera effort before beating away another curling attempt from Dempsey.

Fulham's best chance to break the deadlock came on the stroke of half-time, when it took a late intervention from Cheik Tiote to defuse a promising counter-attack led by Andrew Johnson, who looked impressive on his first league start for 21 months.

If that moment augured well for Fulham, it was Chris Hughton's team who looked the likelier after the break.

Lovenkrands forced Schwarzer into a sprawling save with a low near-post drive, and the big Australian again got down smartly to gather a drilled 20-yard effort from Carroll.

But Newcastle, who were denied by the Fulham keeper again after Guthrie had found Lovenkrands with a searching cross from deep, were clearly missing the midfield invention of the suspended Barton.

That point was underlined five minutes from time when Carroll was again denied, Brede Hangeland making a vital block, although it would have been harsh had Fulham been denied a merited point at that late stage.

71:21 Unfair challenge on Clinton Dempsey by Cheik Tiote results in a free kick. Danny Murphy crosses the ball, Header by Dickson
Etuhu from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.

70:27 Centre by Stephen Kelly, Sanchez Jose Enrique manages to make a clearance.

69:53 The ball is crossed by Damien Duff, Mike Williamson manages to make a clearance.

54:16 Moussa Dembele is adjudged to have handled the ball. Fabricio Coloccini restarts play with the free kick.

52:47 The ball is swung over by Danny Simpson.

50:37 Unfair challenge on Jonas Gutierrez by Stephen Kelly results in a free kick. Danny Guthrie sends in a cross, Andrew Carroll
has an effort at goal. Save by Mark Schwarzer. Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Danny Guthrie, Brede Hangeland
makes a clearance.

50:09 Danny Simpson delivers the ball.

47:27 Foul by Danny Murphy on Jonas Gutierrez, free kick awarded. Danny Guthrie produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick.
Shot from just outside the box by Danny Guthrie goes over the target.

37:07 Unfair challenge on Damien Duff by Danny Guthrie results in a free kick. Danny Murphy crosses the ball in from the free kick,
Cheik Tiote makes a clearance.

35:24 Danny Guthrie takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, Andrew Carroll takes a shot. Save made
by Mark Schwarzer. Shot from 6 yards from Peter Lovenkrands. Save by Mark Schwarzer.

22:16 Free kick awarded for a foul by Danny Murphy on Jonas Gutierrez. Free kick taken by Cheik Tiote.

20:21 Free kick awarded for a foul by Clinton Dempsey on Cheik Tiote. Danny Simpson restarts play with the free kick.

18:27 Corner taken by Danny Guthrie played to the near post, Clinton Dempsey manages to make a clearance. Outswinging corner taken
from the right by-line by Danny Guthrie, clearance made by Zoltan Gera.

18:13 A cross is delivered by Danny Simpson, Aaron Hughes manages to make a clearance.

17:38 The ball is delivered by Danny Guthrie, clearance made by Brede Hangeland.

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